Maybe not, but what were the odds that, six games into his third season, the former rookie free agent and two-team reject would lead the league in interceptions?

“I don’t know,” the Patriots cornerback answered when asked how it felt to hold down such a position. “I guess I haven’t had time to sit back and reflect on that.

“After watching the film, though, there’s a lot of plays that I’ve personally left out on the field and I tell myself, ‘Shoot, I could have six or seven right now,’” said Arrington. “So I’m trying to work on being more consistent and (taking) advantage of those opportunities when they come.”

For the time being, the 5-foot-10, 196-pound Arrington will have to be content with standing atop the NFL with four interceptions, one more than a gang of 12, topped by New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, that’s tied for second with three.

But while Revis has his own island, there have been times during his career that Arrington hasn’t had an NFL home.

Originally signed by Philadelphia as a rookie free agent in 2008, Arrington was waived four times (twice each by the Eagles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneeers) while appearing in just one game before the Patriots came calling in 2009.

Patriots special teams captain Matthew Slater recalls Arrington’s early days in New England well.

“I remember guys giving Kyle a hard time when he first got here for going too hard at times and (telling him to) ease up, but he never listened,” Slater said on Tuesday. “He kept working hard. And I remember encouraging him, (saying,) ‘Hey, man, just keep doing what you’re doing. You’re going to get a chance.’

“There’s no denying his physical ability and now he’s gotten that chance and he’s taken full advantage of it and I couldn’t be happier for the guy. He works so hard and he tries to do everything right and it’s paying off for him.”

After Arrington was promoted from the practice squad to active duty and registered 17 special teams tackles in eight games with the Pats in 2009, one man’s failure (see Darius Butler) became another man’s opportunity last year.

Taking over as a starting corner across from Devin McCourty in Week Three, Arrington capitalized with 67 tackles and an interception he returned 36 yards for a touchdown in the Patriots’ 31-27 win over Green Bay last Dec. 19 at Gillette Stadium and added another 16 tackles and one TD (a 35-yard blocked field-goal return in the Pats’ 41-14 road win over Miami) on special teams.

“I’ve never really ever considered myself a long shot or anything like that,” said Arrington, a product of a university (Hofstra) that no longer fields a football team. “I’m a football player. It’s what I’ve wanted to do since Day One and it’s what I want to continue to do, and if I’m fortunate enough to play this game and go out on my terms then so be it.”

Page 2 of 2 - According to his head coach, Arrington’s interceptions – Miami’s Chad Henne, Buffalo’s Ryan Fitzpatrick (twice) and Dallas’ Tony Romo have been the victims – haven’t come by accident.

“I think some of the things we talked to Kyle about at the end of the season, after the 2010 season, and things he needed to work on and areas he can improve, one of them – (and) for any defensive back – they can always improve their ball skills,” Bill Belichick said. “As an offensive player, as a receiver, you get dozens of balls thrown to you in every practice in individual drills and 7-on-7 (drills), team drills, after practice, the JUGS machine, all those kind of things.

“Defensively, it’s a different story. You don’t get very many opportunities to handle the ball. Maybe a couple opportunities in the beginning of practice in individual-type drills, usually that’s with the coach throwing to you which generally is not the same as an NFL quarterback. Your opportunities to catch the ball are limited in practice and so it’s something you have to do more on your own or the coach or somebody else has to set up a drill and have balls thrown to you. (You have to) work on your ball skills with the JUGS machine or whatever it is.

‘That’s one of the things we talked about last year that was something he could work (during) the offseason on,” said Belichick. “Playing the ball, handling the ball more, just overall ball skills, and obviously he’s done that.”